Staff audit finds no problems with recorder’s account

Thursday, Sept. 25, 2003 | 8:42 a.m.

An audit of a Clark County recorder's office checking account has found no problems, Recorder Fran Deane said Wednesday.

According to an audit by Clark County staff, the amounts in an imprest account, used to credit customers who overpay their bills, matched what was recorded in the ledger.

Deane said the results of the audit show that financially there are no problems at her office, which documents important records such as property transfers.

Deane has been on the defensive for weeks since she admitted that she had begun to set up a for-profit business that could have competed against a company contracted by the county to provide access to documents for free over the Internet.

She also has admitted driving with a suspended license, and some employees in her office have complained about working conditions.

One of her sharpest critics has been Clark County Manager Thom Reilly. Reilly on Wednesday downplayed the significance of the financial audit.

The audit, which was conducted July 16, was a routine financial check, he said. Among other issues, an expanded audit will look into allegations that the recorder has provided preferential service to real-estate companies, which Reilly and other county officials have said violates state law.

Reilly said that audit should be released close to the end of October.

Deane said the expanded audit would fully vindicate her and her staff, which has handled record numbers of property documents over the course of her administration, which began in January.

"Clearly the financial aspect of malfeasance has been eliminated," Deane said.

Malfeasance or nonfeasance, a term referring to nonperformance of the job, are two reasons why the Clark County Commission could remove the recorder from office. The recorder is an independently elected position, although the commission and the county manager have unsuccessfully lobbied the Legislature to make the job a county department head appointed by the commissioners.